Indian Andhra Pradesh government outlines major solar PV initiatives

The government of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh in India has undertaken several outstanding initiatives in solar photovoltaics (PV), according to K. Rosaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, who was speaking at the Solarcon India 2010 show in Hyderabad, India.

He informed attendees that the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corp. (APIIC) is allotting land in several potential areas for development of solar power projects in the state.

Potential areas identified for developing such projects include:

Kadiri in Ananthpur (2,200 acres)

Gurajala in Guntur District (4,575 acres)

Nennal in Adilabad district (1,008 acres)

Pulivendula and Kopparty in Kadapa district (625 acres)

The Chief Minister added that the state government of Andhra Pradesh is encouraging solar power projects by approving the recommended tariff of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), government of India. It has also recommended for 0.25 percent solar energy power purchase obligation. Besides, the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has also issued a tariff order.

It is well known that the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, and the city of Hyderabad in particular, have taken a clear lead in establishing themselves as the solar capital and solar state of India, respectively. At the inaugural Solarcon India 2009, the AP government unveiled the logo of the upcoming SolarCity at Anantapur, and also awarded allotment letters to four companies in FabCity - Sunborne Inc, USA, Lanco Solar, AES Solar, USA and Titan Energy,

This year, the Andhra Pradesh government has gone one better. The AP government is aggressively encouraging the setting up of manufacturing plants at Fabcity in Hyderabad. According to the Chief Minister, as of now, 21 units are said to be coming up at FabCity - at an investment of Rs, 20,000 crores (USD$4.4 billion). Once up and running, these projects will have the capacity to provide employment to 25,000 people.

Roshiah also informed the audience that the AP state government has further selected 22 companies under the rooftop and other small solar power projects schemes in the state for total capacity of 20 megawatts (MW).

Meanwhile, the state government has recommended eight projects, which are under various stages of development — with total capacity of 28 MW — for migration to the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JN-NSM).